Self-locking steering-gear for vehicles.



No. 826,382. PATENTED JULY I7, 1906.`

I E. I. STEGK. SELF LOCKING STEERING GEARv FOR VEHICLES.`

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET-l- N0. 826,382. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

E. P. STEGK.

SELF LOCKING STEERING GEAR FOR VEHICLES. APPLroATzoN runnme. 2s, 1905.

l 2 sums-SHEET a,

E 2 3 2 /5 y f. 1 l Ilm l 76" /7 ,28 2.11, 28

I l' 99 23 l; 30 ,96 50 ,26

@vii/mennen 72. fi MW UNITED s'rATEs Pirrnrir orrron.

'ERNESI` F. STECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS., ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN- LA FRANCE FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

.SELF-LOCKING' STEERING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

vTo a/ZZ whom it may concern:

.I Se it known that I, ERNEST F. Srnck, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful "Improvement in Self-Locking Steering-Gear for Vehicles; and in order j that those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains may construct and use the' same I give the following specification.

My invention relates to steering-gear for vehicles, particularly such vehiclesV as fire-department ladder-trucks and .other lire apparatus and also for motor-vehicles.

The invention has for its object to provide a self-locking steering gear or mechanism the locking elements of which are operated by the ordinary movements of the steering mechanism, so'that no additional attention .or manipulation on the part of the driver is view of the invention with parts removed for the sake of clearness.

Fig. II is an elevation. Fig. III is a side elevation, partly in section, on line X X, Fig. I. Fig. IV is a detail sectional elevation on line Y Y, Fig. I. Fig.

V is a plan view, partly in section. Figs. VI and VII are detail perspective views of parts of the mechanism.

In the several views of the drawings the same reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

The numerals 1 and 2 indicate, respectively, the fixed and movable members of the fifth- Wheel of the vehicle, member 1 being attached, asis well understood, to the body of the vehicle, member 2 being secured to the Y bogie-truck or guiding-wheels of the vehicle.

Bolted or otherwise secured upon member 1 is a bracket or frame 3, formed with an opening 4 to receive shaft 5. On the bracket 3 and positioned centrally over opening 4 is a casing 6, havingan extension 7, in which is formed a square socket 8 to receive the correspondingly-squared end of tiller-shaft 9. The central portion of casing 6 is provided with a vertical opening 10 toV receive upper end of shaft 5. This shaft is held in position by set-screw 11, tapped through casing 6, the upper end of said screw engaging groove 12, formed around the upper end of said shaft. The'interior of casing 6 is, as is clearly shown in Figs. V and VII, formed with inwardly-extending projections 13, 13, 13, and 14. The projections 13 13 13 have their inner faces 13 formed on an arc of a circle of the same diameter. The surface 14 of projection 14 is formed on an arc of a circle of a larger diameter. In the interior of casing 6 is arranged a cam-shaped piece 15, a portion of the circumference 16 of which is on an arc of'a circle corresponding to that on lwhich the faces of the projections 13 are formed, the other portion 16a of the cam-shaped piece being on arc of circle on which the face of projection 14 is formed. The portion of the circumference of the cam-shaped piece 15 which is formed with the larger radius is of a length somewhat sh'orter than the distance between jections 13 on each side thereof, so as to al ow of a slight play or clearance 17. (See Fig. V.) The object of this clearance will subsequently appear. The lower face of cam-shaped piece 15 is countersunk to receive the circular rim 18, surrounding the opening 4 in bracket 3, and a squared or angular aperture is formed through the camshaped piece toV receive the squared or angular portion 20 of shaft 5. The j casing 6 and cam-shaped piece 15 are thus in the nature of a lost-motion coupling between the portions 5 and 9 of the tillershaft. The outer periphery of casing 6 is formed with a groove 21, and at equidistant intervalstherein are formed depressions or notches 22. (See Figs. V and VII.) The groove 21 receives a strap 23, the said strap being guided by the stem 24, formed thereon and passing through a bracket 25,- secured to the bracket 3, and by stems 26 .26, which ass through apertured lugs 27 A27, forme on bracket 3. The stems 26 are provided with springs 28, which act between lugs 27 and Washer 29, held to the ends of stems 26 by means of nuts 30. The tension of the springs 28 may be regulated by adjustable nuts 30.

ICO

The strap 23lis provided with an inwardlyprojecting tooth 31, which bears against periphery of groovev21 and is adapted to enter depressions or notches 22, this tooth being kept against the periphery of groove 21 and caused to follow the same and enter the depressions 22 by the action of springs 28. The periphery of the casing thus forms a cam which coperates with the strap 23, forming the locking device, and operates to disengage the same from the notches 36 and permits the same to engage said notches to lock the guiding-wheels under the action of spring 28. I

Secured to the movable member 2 of the fifth-wheel is atoothed segment 32, in the teeth of which mesh a pinion 33, secured fast on the lower end of shaft 5 and held in place by means of washer 34 and nut 35 or other suitable means. On the upper rim of toothed segment 32 are formed a series of notches 36, in which engage teeth 37 37, formed on downward extensions 33 3S on strap 23. The teeth 37 are caused to snap into notches 36 by action of springs 28, as will be readily understood.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: On turning steering-wheel S the shaft 9 is rotated, carrying with it casing 6. Owing to the shape of depressions 22 and tooth 31, the strap 23 will be forced outward. This outward movement of strap 23 carries the teeth 37 out of engagement with notches 36 in the toothed segment 32. This movement of the casing is sufficient to bring the larger portion of cam-shaped piece 15 into contact with one of the interior projections 13. A further movement carries with it cam-shaped piece 15. This cam being secured to shaft 5 to rotate therewith carries said shaft and pin ion 33 around in the rotation. The pinion being in mesh with the toothed segment 32, attached to movable member of the iifthwheel, swings the guiding wheels or truck in the direction desired. The operator may now release his hand from the tiller, if desired, whereupon teeth 37 will snap into one of the notches 36 and securely hold the truck or guidingwheels in the changed position and maintain the desired direction of travel.

From the above it will be seen that my improved invention provides a reliable and effective lock for steering mechanism, whereby the steering wheel or truck is secured and locked in the adjusted position without effort or attention on the part of the operator. No eXtra parts or devices are required to be operated, so that the attention of the operator isnot distracted, and the steering' of the vehicle is performed by merely operating the tiller or steering-wheel in the usual manner. The operator is also relieved from the muscular effort required to hold and maintain the steering-wheel steady in the desired position and is also relieved from shocks to the guiding-truck due to obstructions or the unevenness of the road. The jolt and sway of the vehicle also is prevented from affecting the operators management of the steering-gear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y 1. In a device of the characterfdescribed, the combination of a locking memberconnected to the guiding-wheels of a vehicle to move therewith, steering mechanism for moving said member tol change the direction of the guiding-wheels, a locking device, a Se- A ries of notches or recesses-on said member in which said locking device engages, a cam device operated by the steering mechanism, said cam device engaging the locking device and operating to release and set lthe same.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with the movable member of the fth-wheel of a vehicle of a locking device engaging said fifth-wheel member to lock the same in desired position, and means operated by the ordinary steerin operation of the vehicle and engaging said locking device to move the same into and out of engagement with said member.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with the movable member of the fth-wheel of a vehicle, of a series of notches or recesses on said member, a locking device having projections for engaging said notches, a rack secured to said fthwheel member, a gear or pinion engaging said rack, a tiller having lost-motion connection with said gear or pinion, and means movable with the tiller or steering-wheel for disengaging and permitting rengagement of the locking device with said notches or recesses.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with the movable member of the fifth-wheel of a vehicle, of a series of notches on said member, a spring-actuated locking device slidably mounted upon the fixed member of the fifth-wheel, said locking device adapted to engage the notches in said movable member, a rack secured to the movable member, a pinion engaging said rack, a tiller or steering-wheel having lost-motion connection with said pinion, and means moving with said tiller or steering-wheel and` engaging said locking device to release the same during the lost motion of the tiller or steering-wheel.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with the movable member of the fifth-wheel of a vehicle, of a segment secured thereto, a rack and notches formed in said segment, a' gear or pinion engaging said rack, a tiller or steering-wheel having lost-motion connection with said gear or pinion, a slidably-mounted locking device normally in engagement with said notches, Aa lug or projection on said locking device, means movable with the tiller or steeringwheel for engaging said lug vor projection to release the locking device, and a spring lfor IOO IIO

returning the locking device into engagement with the notches.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member connected to the guiding-wheels of a vehicle to move therewith, and a steering mechanism for moving said member and wheels, a springactuated locking device, a series of notches on said member in which the locking device engages, a movable member provided with high and low portions and operated by the steering mechanism, a projection on the locki ing device engaging said high and low portions whereby movement of said member disengages the locking device from said member connected to the guiding-wheels and permits rengagement of the same therewith by the action of its springs.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a locking member connected to the guiding-wheels of a vehicle to move therewith, a tiller or steering-wheel Jfor moving said member and wheels, a locking device, a series of notches on said member engaged by the locking device, a member provided with high and low portions and movable with the tiller or steering-wheel, and a projection on the locking device engaging said high and low portions whereby movement of the tiller or steering-wheel in steering releases and sets the locking device.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a locking member connected to the guiding-wheels of a vehicle to move therewith, a tiller or steering-wheel for moving said member and wheels, a locking device, a series of notches on said member engaged by the locking device, a casing connected with the tiller or steering-wheel to move therewith, a series of depressions on the eriphery of the casing, a projection on the ocking device for engaging said depressions, an operating-shaft for moving the guidingwheels to guide the vehicle, a connection between said shaft and casing said connection movable with the shaft and casing and having a degree of lost motion therebetween, the movement of the casing during the lost motion operating to release the locking device.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member connected to the guiding-wheels of a vehicle to move therewith, a tiller or steering-wheel for moving said member, a series of notches on said member, a locking device for engaging said notches, a casing connected with the tiller or steering-wheel, depressions on the periphery of the casing, a projection on the locking device for engaging said casing, the relative arrangement of the notches and depressions being such that the locking device is engaged and disengaged therewith simultaneously, projections to allow of slight play or-lost motion therebetween, and an operating-shaft for the member connected to the guidingwheels, said shaft having rigid connection with said connecting member, whereby the independent motion of the casing disengages the locking device and further movement thereof rotates the operating-shaft to move the member connected to the guiding-Wheels to steer the vehicle, and rengages the locking device to hold said member in the desired position.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with the movable member of the fifth-wheel of a vehicle, of a locking device engaging said movable fifth-wheel member, a Vshaft and gear for operating said movable iifth-wheel member, a tiller or steering-wheel, a connection between the tiller or steering-wheel and the said shaft, said connection permitting a degree of play or lost motion between the parts and means for causing said lost motion to release and set the locking device.

ERNEST F. STECK. Witnesses:

J. WV. TEHLE, T. J. ELLIOTT, Jr.. 

